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How to Keep Your Pet Safe on Turkey Day

How to Keep Your Pet Safe on Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is just a few days away. Like any holiday, Turkey Day brings with it a few potential pet hazards to be aware of. Here, your Sayville, NY vet tells you what to keep on the lookout for.

No Table Scraps

Make sure everyone around your Thanksgiving dinner table knows the protocol regarding table scraps—they should be kept to an absolute minimum. If pets ingest too much fat all at once, it can give them an upset stomach, cause vomiting or diarrhea, or—worst of all—induce a dangerous case of acute pancreatitis.

Beware of Toxic Foods

Several foods you have in your kitchen on Thanksgiving can prove harmful to pets, so it’s best to keep your animal companion out of the kitchen. Beware of onions, garlic, chives, grapes, raisins, certain nuts, salty items, caffeine, chocolate, and candy. In addition, alcohol is extremely bad for pets; if your holiday celebration will include alcoholic beverages, make sure your pet doesn’t have access to them.

Don’t Offer Bones

It’s tempting to slip your pet a turkey bone as a special Thanksgiving treat, but it’s best to reconsider. Bones, whether they’re cooked or uncooked, can chunk and splinter apart dangerously when chewed. They present a choking hazard and can also cut a pet’s mouth or puncture the intestinal lining when swallowed. Rather than a bone, slip your pet a good old fashioned chew toy.

Keep an Eye on the Garbage

Your holiday garbage bag undoubtedly contains various pet hazards, from bones to toxic foods to fatty scraps. Since a pet can easily chew or rip through a flimsy plastic bag, it’s imperative that you put it inside of a hard container or place it in another room where pets don’t have access.

Limit Stress and Anxiety

Many pets, especially those who are naturally shy, can easily become overwhelmed as guests arrive at your home on Thanksgiving. Before the big day, set up a safe haven of sorts in a quiet back room, complete with a pet bed, blankets, and a few favorite toys. Lead your pet here if you see them begin to exhibit signs of anxiety.

Keep your vet’s number on hand to call in the event of an emergency. Also be sure to ask about other great ways to keep your animal companion safe on Turkey Day. From all of us here at your Sayville, NY animal hospital, happy Thanksgiving!